Help me choose which buck to get!

[TroutRiver]

If you had to choose one of these bucks for a meat sire, which would you choose? And why? I really have no idea how to pick, they both look pretty nice to me but I also only see black and silver fuzz balls. I'm pretty sure they are both nearly 5 months old.

[jolly rabbit]

I would choose the 1st one, they are not quite posed right, but close. If you look at the 2nd one his hips look a little bony(unless it it is just the fur) the 1st one has a gentle rise and the depth of the backend looks ok, if his front paws were back another inch right under his eyes, I am pretty sure I would see a ball of meat and that is what your looking for. 2nd ones foot is also protruding where as the first one seems to have it tucked properly. I also think the first has a much richer coat. Hope this helps!

[TroutRiver]

That does help. Thanks. Eventually I will know what I am looking at, still learning

[AprilW]

I think for Silver Fox, the first has the more appropriate coloration. To me he also looks like the better buck type-wise.

[jolly rabbit]

Originally Posted by AprilW

I think for Silver Fox, the first has the more appropriate coloration. To me he also looks like the better buck type-wise.

the fur is very important as well ( I ,breed rex as well) but as a new breeder trout, make sure to look at the complete package. It easy to look at 2 cars and say I want the shiny red one, until you get it and realize it doesn't have a motor or a tranny or steering wheel, and it turns out the not so shiny car had everything brand new under the hood and runs like the day it rolled of the floor. Case en point is a rabbit with good hips that can give birth without problems, or private parts that function like they are supposed to. All these thing make up a good breeding rabbit. my truck, looks like hell but runs like the devil!

[HayBabies]

The first buck looks a little better. The 2nd one looks a little pinched around the hocks. If these are your only two bucks. I would say keep them both. Never know what can happen to your first buck. Never hurts to have a back up buck just in case.

[Dead Rabbit]

neither.........lol.

[jolly rabbit]

Originally Posted by Dead Rabbit

neither.........lol.

Dead rabbit, that response isn't very constructive, why neither in your opinion?

[TroutRiver]

Originally Posted by Dead Rabbit

neither.........lol.

Why? I would love some constructive advice so that I know what to look for.

These rabbits are from a show breeder who is traveling hundreds of miles to go to nationals, so I can only guess that they are at least respectable in quality. But like I said before I don't really know what I'm looking for yet. I want to learn!

[mygoat]

Neither are perfect, but a single pic from the side isn't that great to pick from. Nothing beats getting your hands on them.

Both are lacking depth, and are long and flat bodied. You want their depth from the peak in their shape to the width of their body. With Silver Fox, often you get comments like 'hollow in the loins', 'lacks fullness in the HQ's", or "narrow HQ's". These are impossible/difficult to eval from these kind of pics.

The color is *currently* better on the first Jr. But he's not done silvering. Fur looks decent. 2nd buck is duller in coat but obviously hasn't lost his Jr coat yet and is still definetely silvering. Silvering is such a variable trait that most breeders agree that we don't select for amount of silvering. We do select for EVENESS though - no splotchy buns.

Here's a pic of one of my 11 week old NZ does that I rather like the shape of:

Notice the depth of body. She is round shaped from the side. The deepest part of her body is a little bit behind her toe, so she may be a bit over-pushed up in the HQs. From the top, they should be round as well, not 'ice cream cone' shaped with drastically narrower shoulders than the HQ's.

If you're on FB, join the silver fox group on there: https://www.facebook.com/groups/266279950104455/

The Tudors have made this nice little picture that does a pretty good job of showing what to look for:

[TroutRiver]

That is very helpful. Thank you!

[jolly rabbit]

remember, I talked about posing the rabbit, maybe the breeder can send more pics.

[Dead Rabbit]

i agree mostly with ms. barski

i like a buck that has a longer body, but is built with a nice arch. so he looks blocky and brick shape. the only way to tell is by a hands on approach. you have to "feel" the length, and in turn you feel how much loin is on a buck. a longer body, with the blocky shape will produce does that have longer bodies that are built for production. you have to feel the hind in to see if he's strong or weak. neither look that strong.

i dont see a good buck in either picture. plus its hard to tell by looking at a "wooly" haired rabbit like these. course i must admit i dont know anything about these breeds. but i know what a meat rabbit should look like. both these buck are lacking in certain areas. IMO...

and i must add, i wouldnt pick either for meat production because neither are white with pink eyes. (and thats why i added the "LOL" ,,,,just a lil jokey sarcasm. thats all no harm intended.)

[Dead Rabbit]

i really like the pic of that NZ black doe. kudos on her ms barski............. even though shes forcing the arch somewhat, you can still see the nice arch which generally means nice loin, but yet you can see the length in that does body. perfect for breeding and carrying lots of kits. she is younger and a doe,, yet puts those bucks pictured at first to shame.

id be proud to have that doe in my rabbitry......even if she is the wrong color.

truthfully i have one black doe still in the mix. no NZ in her, but lordy she throws big kits.

[TroutRiver]

Thanks everyone. This is all very helpful!

[mygoat]

Originally Posted by Dead Rabbit

id be proud to have that doe in my rabbitry......even if she is the wrong color.

Thank you. I think she's the right color and the white ones are the wrong color, actually.

I wish I could keep her, but I can honestly repeat the breeding and I'm trading that particular NZB for a white SF rabbit (the right color? LOL!) from a good friend of mine, which I will pick up later on. No cage space right now, though we're planning a new rabbitry to be built 'soon'.

[ChiniMiniRex]

For a terminal meat sire, I would actually go with the second buck. He has a longer midsection and fuller lower HQ, indicating that his carcass is longer in the places where it means it (loins) and the hind legs will have a little more meat on them. For show, the first buck has better color and more correct Fox fur, but neither of them them are what I would call show prospects by any means. Just my $.02!!

Kelly

[Mickey328]

Pictures only go so far...along with the looks, I'd advise to get your hands on them...feel the muscle development and choose the one that feels the meatiest. If you're not breeding for show, then growth, development and meat production are what you need to focus on.

[Haven]

I would tell the breeder to pick one for you. Ask him which one he would keep, since he has them and can put his hands on them.